For now, at least, the average retail gasoline prices in Kansas are falling, dropping 4.3 cents per gallon in the past week with an average of $3.21 per gallon as of Sunday. This compares with the national average that has fallen 3.2 cents per gallon in the last week to $3.46, according to gasoline price website KansasGasPrices.com.

For most of the past century, Alzheimer's patients and their families were advised the disease was something to be managed, not cured. Without medication and cognitive therapy, the debilitating loss of memory eventually progresses until the body forgets to do automatic functions like swallowing, and those effected usually die of secondary diseases caused by a decrease in health. But thanks to people like Hazel Mannik, new options and a new outlook is beginning to come into focus.

Jeffrey Wade Chapman entered a plea of "not guilty" to first degree murder, during his arraignment Friday in Barton County District Court. Chapman, 31, of Pawnee Rock, is charged with the intentional, premeditated murder of Damon Galyardt on Nov. 11 or early Nov. 12, 2011.

ELLINWOOD - Ellinwood High School will present the musical "Dear Edwina" at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 16 and 17 at the Ellinwood High School auditorium, 210 E. 2nd. Tickets can be purchased for $5 from the Ellinwood Public Library, Kimple Furniture Store, Ellinwood Community Bank, or any cast member.

Less than a week after his winning his bid to be the next Barton County Sheriff, Brian J. Bellendir has announced his command staff. The changes will take effect in January when Bellendir is sworn into office.

Enter the office of Diane Engle and she greets you with a warm hello in her Oklahoma accent. Raised on a farm in western Oklahoma, she is drawn to old homesteads, farm equipment, and just about anything else she finds interesting when she's visiting.

The unofficial general election totals were posted by Barton County election officials at 9:24 p.m. However, in the process of double checking the results, Election Officer Donna Zimmerman discovered a tabulation error which resulted in an overstatement of the number of votes cast.

Lindsey Bogner, Clara Barton Hospital's foundation assistant, was on the hot seat Tuesday afternoon as she fielded questions at a forum at Barton Community College. One of two candidates for the position of Executive Director of Institutional Advancement, having already met with Barton Community College Foundation board members, it was the faculty and staff's turn, as well as members of the community, to interview her and provide their written feedback.

The Barton County Sheriff's Office responded to a possible injury accident at 1:05 a.m. Monday on K-4, about 1 mile west of the K-4/U.S. 281 junction, or half a mile east of NW 50 Ave. Although a 2008 Ford F-150 slid off the snow-packed highway and rolled 1.5 times, everyone was wearing seat belts and they were not injured.

Beginning Feb. 23 and running through March 6, the Great Bend Police Department will join other Kansas Law Enforcement agencies to stop what has been an epidemic for the past several years – teens not using seatbelts.

Overly dark vehicle windows are a threat to the safety of the public and to the police officers patrolling the streets, Great Bend Police Sgt. Jay Bachar told the Great Bend City Council Monday night. So, the City of Great Bend Police Department is undertaking a strong effort to monitor window tinting.

As of this weekend, there were two laboratory-confirmed cases of whooping cough in Great Bend, Barton County Health Director Shelly Schneider said Monday morning. One of the cases is in a school-age child and the other in a younger child, both of whom had been vaccinated.

The county employees honored for longevity by the Barton County Commission represented 270 collective years of service to the county. Recognized were folks who have had continuous employment for five, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 35 years.